Methods and apparatus to measure audience composition and recruit audience measurement panelists

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus to measure audience composition and recruit audience measurement panelists are disclosed. An example media device includes a processor and memory including machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to detect a first code embedded in a video stream of media being presented by the media device. The first code references first audience measurement data to identify the media. The instructions cause the processor to, after detection of the first code, provide a request for an audience member to join an audience measurement panel, and after receipt of a response to the request, provide the audience member with a second code. The second code includes information that, when the second code is scanned with a portable device other than the media device, is to direct the portable device to a website to provide additional audience measurement data.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent arises from a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/343,772 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,936,249) filed on Nov. 4, 2016. U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/343,772 is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety. Priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/343,772 is claimed.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to audience measurement, and, moreparticularly, to methods and apparatus to measure audience compositionand recruit audience measurement panelists.

BACKGROUND

For years, televisions and/or set-top boxes connected to televisionshave received media through various media providers including over theair broadcast providers, cable television service providers, and/orsatellite television service providers. More recently, media fortelevision has been available over the Internet through the rise ofsmart televisions (TVs) and/or external devices connected to traditionaltelevisions (e.g., advanced set-top boxes, digital media players, gamingconsoles, etc.). The processing power of smart TVs and/or externaldevices provide the availability of expanded functionality totelevisions while also enabling access to a broader array of mediacontent beyond traditional media broadcasting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system in which the teachings ofthis disclosure may be implemented.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example implementation of the examplemedia encoder of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example implementation of the exampleaudience measurement module of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example implementation of the examplecentral facility of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart representative of example machine-readableinstructions that may be executed to implement the example media encoderof FIGS. 1 and/or 2.

FIGS. 6-8 are flowcharts representative of example machine-readableinstructions that may be executed to implement the example audiencemeasurement module of FIGS. 1 and/or 3.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are flowcharts representative of example machine-readableinstructions that may be executed to implement the example centralfacility of FIGS. 1 and/or 4.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an example processor platform capable ofexecuting the example machine-readable instructions of FIG. 5 toimplement the example media encoder of FIGS. 1 and/or 2.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an example processor platform capable ofexecuting the example machine-readable instructions of FIGS. 6, 7,and/or 8 to implement the example audience measurement module of FIGS. 1and/or 3.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an example processor platform capable ofexecuting the example machine-readable instructions of FIGS. 9 and/or 10to implement the example audience measurement entity of FIGS. 1 and/or4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some techniques to measure audience composition of media include thetracking of individuals (e.g., potential audience members) that haveagreed to participate as panelists in a research study maintained by aratings entity or an audience measurement entity (e.g., The NielsenCompany (US), LLC). Traditionally, audience measurement entitiesdetermine demographic reach for advertising and media programming basedon registered panel members. That is, an audience measurement entityenrolls people that consent to being monitored into a panel. In someexamples, the panelists correspond to a statistically selected subset ofall potential audience members that are representative of the wholepopulation of interest. In some such panel-based monitoring systems, thepanelists agree to provide detailed demographic information aboutthemselves. In this manner, detailed exposure metrics are generatedbased on collected metadata of media and associated user demographics,which can then be statistically extrapolated to an entire population ofinterest (e.g., a local market, a national market, a demographicsegment, etc.).

A person may become an audience measurement panelist by enrolling via,for example, a user interface presented on a media presentation deviceof the person (e.g., via a website). People become panelists inadditional or alternative manners such as, for example, via a telephoneinterview, by completing an online survey, etc. Additionally oralternatively, people may be contacted and/or enlisted using any desiredmethodology (e.g., random selection, statistical selection, phonesolicitations, Internet advertisements, surveys, advertisements inshopping malls, product packaging, etc.).

Media exposure of panelists is monitored by collecting metadataassociated with the media to which the panelists are exposed andtransmitting such metadata to a central facility of the audiencemeasurement entity for subsequent analysis and processing. In someexamples, the media is identified and/or the metadata associated withthe media is collected based on watermarks embedded within the media.Watermarking refers to techniques used to identify media such astelevision broadcasts, radio broadcasts, advertisements (televisionand/or radio), downloaded media, streaming media, prepackaged media,etc. Existing watermarking techniques identify media by embedding codes(e.g., a watermark), such as media identifying information and/or anidentifier that may be mapped to media identifying information, into anaudio and/or video component having a signal characteristic sufficientto substantially hide the watermark. As used herein, the terms “code” or“watermark” are used interchangeably and are defined to mean anyidentification information (e.g., an identifier) that may be transmittedwith, inserted and/or embedded in the audio or video of media (e.g., aprogram or advertisement) for the purpose of identifying the media orfor another purpose such as tuning (e.g., a packet identifying header).As used herein “media” refers to audio and/or visual (still or moving)content and/or advertisements. To identify watermarked media, thewatermark(s) are extracted and compared to reference watermarks and/orother metadata that are mapped to media identifying information.

Unlike media monitoring techniques based on codes and/or watermarksincluded with and/or embedded in the monitored media, fingerprint orsignature-based media monitoring techniques generally use one or moreinherent characteristics of the monitored media during a monitoring timeinterval to generate a substantially unique proxy for the media. Such aproxy is referred to as a signature or fingerprint, and can take anyform (e.g., a series of digital values, a waveform, etc.) representativeof any aspect(s) of the media signal(s) (e.g., the audio and/or videosignals forming the media presentation being monitored). A goodsignature is one that is repeatable when processing the same mediapresentation, but that is unique relative to other (e.g., different)presentations of other (e.g., different) media. Accordingly, the term“fingerprint” and “signature” are used interchangeably herein and arehereby defined herein to mean “a proxy that may be used for identifyingmedia by comparison with a reference database and that is generated fromone or more inherent characteristics of the media.”

Signature-based media monitoring generally involves determining (e.g.,generating and/or collecting) signature(s) representative of a mediasignal (e.g., an audio signal and/or a video signal) output by amonitored media device and comparing the monitored signature(s) to oneor more reference signatures corresponding to known (e.g., reference)media sources. Various comparison criteria, such as a cross-correlationvalue, a Hamming distance, etc., can be evaluated to determine whether amonitored signature matches a particular reference signature. When amatch between the monitored signature and one of the referencesignatures is found, the monitored media can be identified ascorresponding to the particular reference media represented by thereference signature that matched the monitored signature. Becauseattributes, such as an identifier of the media, a presentation time, abroadcast channel, etc., are collected for the reference signature,these attributes may then be associated with the monitored media whosemonitored signature matched the reference signature.

Many media presentation devices and/or associated external devices(e.g., set-top boxes, gaming consoles, digital media players, etc.) donot have sufficient processing power to identify traditional audiowatermarks embedded into media and/or to extract signatures from themedia to identify the media and/or to collect metadata. Accordingly,audience measurement panelists are often provided with meters providedby an audience measurement entity to fulfill this functionality andenable the reporting of such audience measurement data (e.g., metadata)to a central facility of the audience measurement entity.

Identifying and recruiting individuals to serve as panelists andproviding, establishing, and maintaining media monitoring equipment toenable the proper tracking of such individuals can be costly and timeconsuming. Accordingly, example methods, apparatus, systems, andarticles of manufacture disclosed herein may be used to directly measuretelevision audiences across large populations (e.g. census-widemeasurements) independent of an audience measurement panel. Furthermore,examples disclosed herein may be used to facilitate the recruitment ofviewers from a large (e.g., census-wide) population to join an audiencemeasurement panel to collect more robust audience measurement data thatincludes detailed demographics about the viewers that become panelistswithout the need for providing specialized equipment to be installed inthe panelists' homes.

Some disclosed examples involve media providers embedding a video-basedcode into the media rather than (or in addition to) an audio watermark.In some examples, the embedded video code is a barcode with the relevantaudience measurement data encoded therein. That is, in some examples, amedia provider encodes a barcode with media identifying information anda timestamp. Once encoded, the barcode is embedded into the media towhich the barcode is associated. In some example, the barcode isembedded at periodic intervals within the media. The use of a barcode isadvantageous because barcodes are widely used and can be decoded withrelatively little processing power. As a result, such bar codes can bedecoded at an audience member's home without using specialized equipmentat least in some examples. While some examples may embed barcodes intothe media, the embedded codes may be any other type of visual-based code(e.g., a bit stream) that can be readily detected and processed at amedia presentation site (e.g., an audience member's home).

By embedding an easily detected code into media to be distributed by amedia provider, the code can be transmitted to every media device thatis tuned to receive the media. In accordance with the teachingsdisclosed herein, at least some media devices that receive the mediasignal may include an integrated decoder or audience measurement modulethat detects and decodes the codes embedded in the media. The audiencemeasurement module may be embedded into the media device at the time ofmanufacturing the media device. As a result, when people purchase suchdevices and set them up in their homes, the devices are already equippedwith the ability to detect and decode the codes embedded into mediasignals received by such devices. Additionally or alternatively, theaudience measurement module may be integrated into pre-existing mediadevices through a software update to subsequently enable such devices todetect and decode the codes embedded in the media.

In response to detecting a code embedded in media, the audiencemeasurement module embedded in the media device may automaticallygenerate a report to an audience measurement entity indicating theembedded code was detected. The report may include the embedded codeand/or the audience measurement data (e.g., metadata) represented by thecode (e.g., media identifying information and a timestamp). By receivingsuch reports from each media device equipped with the audiencemeasurement module, an audience measurement entity may directlydetermine the total number of media devices (that include the audiencemeasurement module) that were tuned to receive a particular media signalcontaining a particular code embedded therein. As the audiencemeasurement module is integrated into more media devices (based on newmodels purchased by consumers or from software updates to previouslypurchased devices), the audience measurement entity will have access toaudience measurement data for a very large population (e.g., potentiallymillions of households across the United States) without having toextrapolate from feedback collected from a relatively small pool ofstatistically selected audience measurement panelists.

Some media providers may not embed video-based codes into mediadistributed to media devices. In such situations, an audiencemeasurement module included within a media device will not be able todetect an embedded code. When an audience measurement module cannotdetect a code embedded in media being received by a media device,examples disclosed herein involve the audience measurement modulesampling a portion of the media stream to generate a fingerprint orsignature that is transmitted to an audience measurement entity forcomparison to reference media signatures. In some examples, if theaudience measurement entity identifies a match between the sampled mediaand a reference media signature, a report is generated identifying themedia associated with the reference signature as being presented via themedia device from which the media sample was obtained. In this manner,the audience measurement entity may determine the number of mediadevices tuned to particular media even when the media does not includeembedded codes as described above. In some examples, a sample of themedia may collected and included in a report along with audiencemeasurement data referenced by a code embedded in the media.

Audience measurement data obtained in the disclosed examples has agranularity corresponding to each media device associated with theaudience measurement module. That is, while a report of a detected codeembedded in media (or a report matching a media sample to a referencesignature) may identify that a particular media device is tuned to theparticular media, there is no indication of how many individual peopleare exposed to the media being presented via the media device.Furthermore, there is no indication of the demographics of the peopleexposed to the media. As such, while examples disclosed herein enable apotentially census-wide measurement of an audience at the device level,audience measurement panels are still helpful in obtaining more detailedand robust demographic data about the composition of an audience at theindividual person level.

Accordingly, in some examples, the codes embedded in the media are usedto trigger the audience measurement module to provide a prompt, fordisplay to viewers of the media, requesting additional audiencemeasurement data. For example, the prompt may request a viewer toidentify (e.g., via remote control of the media device) the number ofindividual people viewing the particular media presentation devicepresenting the media containing the detected code. Additionally oralternatively, in some examples, detection of the embedded code maytrigger the audience measurement module to provide a redirecting barcodefor display via the media device to redirect a viewer of the media to asecond screen device to provide the requested information. In someexamples, while the code embedded in the media may be sized and/orplaced in a manner to not be perceptible to a human viewer, theredirecting barcode provided by the audience measurement module can bevisible to people viewing the media. In particular, the barcodepresented by the audience measurement module may appear on the screenand remain on the screen for a sufficient period of time to enable aviewer to scan the barcode with a separate portable device (e.g., asecond screen device) with barcode scanning capabilities. In someexamples, the barcode would direct an Internet browser on the secondscreen device to a website where the viewer could provide additionalaudience measurement data (e.g., the number of audience members viewingthe media with the viewer, demographics information, etc.) and/or enablethe audience member to join a panel.

Examples disclosed herein enable the census-wide delivery of requestsfor additional audience measurement data to expand upon what mayautomatically be reported in response to detecting and decoding anembedded code as described above. While it is unlikely that all audiencemembers will respond to requests for additional information, the wideautomatic distribution of such requests is likely to result in responsesfrom many individuals that can be used to further improve audiencecomposition metrics.

In some examples, requests for additional audience measurement data areprovided in connection with requests for a viewer of the media to becomea panelist of an audience measurement panel. In some such examples, theredirecting barcode, displayed for the viewer to scan with a portabledevice, directs the portable device scanning the barcode to a websitethat provides information about becoming a panelist and/or an onlineform to complete the enrollment process.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system 100 in which theteachings of this disclosure may be implemented. The example system 100of FIG. 1 monitors media provided by an example media provider 102 forpresentation via an example media device 104. The example media provider102 of the illustrated example of FIG. 1 represents any of one or moreentities capable of providing any type of media for presentation via amedia device 104 through any available distribution means. The mediaprovider 102 may be a traditional television media provider (e.g., anover the air broadcast provider, a cable television service provider,and/or a satellite television service provider). Additionally oralternatively, the media provider 102 may be a provider of other typesof media (e.g., a streaming media service provider, an IPTV provider,etc.). The media provider 102 may deliver the media to the media device104 via an over-the-air broadcast, via a cable television system, via adirect broadcast satellite system, and/or via a network 106 (e.g., theInternet).

In the illustrated example, the media provider 102 has been providedwith a media encoder 108 from an audience measurement entity. In someexamples, the media provider 102 implements a media encoder 108 to embedcodes into media prior to broadcasting or otherwise distributing themedia to the media device 104. The codes may be audio watermarks thatare detected by equipment provided to audience measurement panelists forreporting to a central facility 110 of an audience measurement entity.Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the codes may bevisual-based codes embedded into the video stream of a media signaltransmitted to the media device 104 tuned to receive such transmissions.In some examples, the embedded code may be a linear barcode or atwo-dimensional barcode (e.g., a quick response (QR) code). In theillustrated example of FIG. 1, the code embedded in the media isrepresented by the small two-dimensional barcode identified by referencenumber 111. In other examples, the embedded code may take any othersuitable form (e.g., a bit stream embedded into one or more pixels ofthe media signal). In some examples, the code 111 may be substantiallyimperceptible to a human viewer of the media. For example, the code 111may be encoded in a portion of the video stream of the signal that isnot displayed on screen (e.g., similar to closed captions encoded intoline 21 of the vertical blanking interval). In some examples, the code111 may be embedded within a visible portion of the video stream butlimited to a single video frame so that a human viewer is unlikely tonotice the brief period when the embedded code is displayed.Furthermore, the code 111 may be relatively small (e.g., less than 20pixels wide) and placed in a relatively inconspicuous location (e.g.,near the corner of a display as shown in FIG. 1). In some examples, thesize and/or placement of the code 111 varies depending upon the natureand/or format of the distribution of the media signal.

In some examples, the code 111 includes media identifying informationcorresponding to the media being provided (e.g., a station ID for themedia broadcast signal and/or information uniquely identifying the mediacontent being transmitted (e.g., a television series name, a season andepisode number, a movie title, a year of release, etc.)). Further, insome examples, the code 111 may be encoded with a timestamp indicatingwhen the media containing the code 111 was transmitted. In someexamples, the code 111 may be embedded within the media on a periodic oraperiodic basis (e.g., every 2 second, every 10 seconds, etc.) with thetimestamp information being updated for each successive code. In somesuch examples, each successive code 111 may be slightly differentbecause each code 111 includes different timestamp information.

The example media device 104 of FIG. 1 is a computing device that iscapable of presenting media provided by the media provider 102. In theillustrated example of FIG. 1, the media device 104 presents the mediavia separate media presentation device 112 that includes a screen 114.That is, in the illustrated example, the media device 104 is an externaldevice associated with the media presentation device 112. In some suchexamples, the media presentation device 112 and the media device 104 aretypical consumer electronics devices. For example, the mediapresentation device 112 may be a traditional television set while themedia device 104 may be a set-top box, a video game console (e.g., anXbox®, a PlayStation®, etc.), or a digital media player (e.g., a Roku®media player, a Slingbox®, a Tivo®, etc.).

In other examples, the media device 104 is capable of directlypresenting media (e.g., via a screen incorporated into the media device104). That is, the media device 104 and the media presentation device112 may correspond to the same device. For example, the media device 104may be a smart television, a television with a built in digital mediaplayer, a tablet computer (e.g., an iPad®), a laptop computer, a desktopcomputer, an Internet enabled mobile handset (e.g., a smartphone, aniPod®, etc.), and/or any other computing device capable of implementingan audience measurement module 116 and displaying media via anintegrated screen 114. Thus, as used herein “media devices” may or maynot be able to present media without assistance from a second device.

In the illustrated example, the audience measurement module 116 receivesand processes the media distributed by the media provider 102 prior topresenting the media via the screen 114 of the media presentation device112. More particularly, in some examples, the audience measurementmodule 116 monitors the media to detect and decode the visual-basedcodes (e.g., the code 111) embedded therein. The detection and/ordecoding of traditional audio watermarks embedded in media may rely onsignificant processing demands met by specialized equipment provided toaudience measurement panelists. By contrast, detecting and decodingvisual-based codes, such as the barcode 111, is relatively simple sothat many existing media devices would have sufficient processingcapacity to do so. As a result, virtually any media device 104 (e.g., asmart TV, a set-top box, a gaming console, a digital media player, etc.)has the potential to include an example audience measurement module 116as disclosed herein. Inasmuch as the code 111 is embedded into mediaprior to distribution to the media device 104, the code 111 may bedetected by every media device 104 tuned to receive the media andincludes an audience measurement module 116. That is, in some examples,census-wide delivery and detection of codes embedded within media may bepossible in accordance with the teachings disclosed herein.

In some examples, the audience measurement module 116 is incorporatedinto the media device 104 at the time of manufacture of the devicebefore it is purchased by an end user. In other examples, the audiencemeasurement module 116 may be incorporated into the media device 104through a software update after an end user has purchased and/or usedthe media device 104. In this manner, the audience measurement module116 may be implemented in media devices 104 owned by a very large numberof individuals to make the census-wide (or near-census-wide) tracking ofmedia possible. For example, more than 30 million households in theUnited States are estimated to have a smart TV that could include theaudience measurement module 116 with potentially millions more withtraditional television sets that are connected to an external mediadevice (e.g., a set-top box, a gaming console, a digital media player,etc.) that could include the audience measurement module 116. As theintegration of the Internet and television increases, it is likely thatthese numbers will increase even further. Furthermore, millions of othercomputing devices (e.g., tablets, laptop computers, smartphones, etc.)may also serve as the media device 104 with the audience measurementmodule 116.

In some examples, the audience measurement module 116 may communicatewith the central facility 110 of the audience measurement entity throughthe network 106. More particularly, in response to detecting a code 111embedded in a particular media signal, the audience measurement module116 may automatically generate and transmit a report to the centralfacility 110 indicating the embedded code 111 was detected. The reportmay include the embedded code 111 and/or the information encoded withinthe embedded code 111 (e.g., media identifying information and atimestamp indicating the time the media was transmitted by the mediaprovider 102). Additionally or alternatively, the report may includeadditional information such as, for example, a second timestampindicating the time when the media was presented via the screen 114.Further, the report may include device identifying information (e.g., aserial number) to uniquely identify the particular media device 104implementing the audience measurement module 116 that detected theembedded code 111. Further still, the report may include locationinformation based on the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the audiencemeasurement module 116 transmitting the report.

By receiving such reports from each media device 104 equipped with theaudience measurement module 116, the central facility 110 may directlydetermine the total number of media devices 104 (that include theaudience measurement module 116) that were tuned to receive a particularmedia signal containing a particular code 111. With the potential forthe audience measurement module 116 being integrated into a large numberof media devices 104 (based on new models purchased by consumers or fromsoftware updates to previously purchased devices), the audiencemeasurement entity will have access to audience measurement data for apotentially very large population (e.g., potentially millions ofhouseholds across the United States) without having to extrapolate fromfeedback collected from a limited pool of statistically selectedaudience measurement panelists provided using costly media monitoringequipment.

While the audience measurement data collected by the central facility110 from audience measurement modules 116 responding to a detected code111 embedded in a media signal may be based on a very large orcensus-type population, the granularity of such data corresponds to eachmedia device 104 associated with the audience measurement module 116.That is, while a report may identify that a particular media device 104is tuned to particular media, there may be no indication of how manyindividual people are exposed to the media being played via theparticular media device 104. Furthermore, there may be no indication ofthe demographics of the people exposed to the media.

Accordingly, in some examples, the embedded codes 111 are further usedto facilitate the collection of additional audience measurement dataspecific to individual audience members. More particularly, in someexamples, detection of the embedded code 111 may trigger the audiencemeasurement module 116 to modify the presentation of the media on thescreen 114 to provide a prompt requesting a viewer of the mediapresentation device 112 to identify the number of individual peopleviewing the media containing the code 111 being presented at the mediapresentation device 112. The prompt may additionally and/oralternatively request additional information about the viewers. A userresponse by the viewer may be included in the report sent to the centralfacility 110. The audience measurement module 116 may modify thepresentation of the media to present the prompt in any suitable manner.For example, the prompt may visually replace some or all of the media,the prompt may visually overlie the media, or the prompt may be includedin a sidebar or information panel that is spaced apart from where themedia is being displayed. The prompt may include a visual component, anaudible component, or both.

In some examples, the viewer may respond to the prompt by entering auser response via a remote control associated with the media device 104.Additionally or alternatively, the prompt provided by the audiencemeasurement module 116 may direct viewers to a website maintained by theaudience measurement entity to provide the requested information. Insome examples, in response to detecting a code 111 embedded in themedia, the prompt generated by the audience measurement module 116includes a redirecting barcode 122. That is, in some examples, thedisplay of the redirecting barcode 122 is triggered by the detection ofthe embedded code 111 such that they would not appear on the screen 114at the same time. However, both are shown together in FIG. 1 forpurposes of explanation.

In the illustrated example, the redirecting barcode 122 is encoded withinformation (e.g., a uniform resource locator (URL)) to redirect aviewer to a website after scanning the barcode 122 with a portabledevice 118 of the viewer. More particularly, the redirecting barcode 122may be a linear barcode or a two-dimensional barcode (e.g., a QR code)that is recognizable by a scanning application on the portable device118 to automatically open up a browser on the portable device 118 at thewebsite. In this manner, relatively little content is displayed on thescreen 114 to disturb an audience member attempting to view the media inwhich the embedded code 111 was detected because the audience member isredirected to the website on a second screen device (e.g., the portabledevice 118). Furthermore, redirecting an audience member to a website ona second screen device in this manner enables the audience member todetermine when to provide the additional information requested. Forexample, rather than having to respond immediately to the request duringthe media presentation a viewer is watching, the viewer may scan thebarcode 122 and then continue watching the media to return to thewebsite on the portable device 118 at a later point in time to providethe requested information.

Unlike the code 111 embedded into the media by the media provider 102that may not be perceptible to a human viewer, in the illustratedexample, the redirecting barcode 122 provided by the audiencemeasurement module 116 is visible to people viewing the screen 114. Inparticular, as described above, the embedded code may be in a singlevideo frame and have a relatively small size that is in an inconspicuouslocation. By contrast, the redirecting barcode 122 may appear on thescreen and remain on the screen for a sufficient period of time toenable a person to scan the redirecting barcode 122 with the portabledevice 118. Thus, as represented in the illustrated example of FIG. 1,the embedded code 111 is relatively small and located in the corner ofthe screen 114 while the redirecting barcode 122 is much larger andplaced in a more conspicuous location. While the redirecting barcode 122is shown on the center of the screen 114 and consuming a substantialportion of the display, in some examples, the barcode 122 may be placedin a different location (e.g., in an information sidebar) and be of anysuitable size to enable scanning by the portable device 118. In someexamples, the redirecting barcode 122 is displayed along with a textprompt 124 explaining the purpose of the barcode 122. In some examples,each viewer of the screen 114 may be invited and/or encouraged to scanthe redirecting barcode 122 individually to separately access thewebsite and provide additional information requested by the audiencemeasurement entity.

In some examples, the redirecting barcode 122 displayed for viewerscanning is based on information contained in the code 111 embedded intothe media signal by the media provider 102. For example, the code 111may include the uniform resource locator (URL) corresponding to thewebsite to which a portable device is directed upon scanning theredirecting barcode 122. In some examples, the embedded code 111 is abarcode that is the same as the redirecting barcode 122. That is, insome examples, the redirecting barcode 122 is a copy or duplication ofthe embedded code 111 to simplify the procedure and reduce theprocessing requirements for the audience measurement module 116 ingenerating the redirecting barcode 122. In other examples, theredirecting barcode 122 may be a static barcode that is stored in amemory of the audience measurement module 116 and retrieved in responseto detecting the embedded code 111 regardless of the particular contentof the embedded code 111.

Potentially millions of media devices having an audience measurementmodule 116 to detect the embedded code 111 in media and providing aredirecting barcode 122, as described above, enable the nearlycensus-wide delivery of requests for audience member counts,demographics, and/or any other audience measurement data beyond thedevice-level information that may automatically be reported upondetecting the code 111. While not all audience members may respond tosuch requests, the wide automatic distribution of such requests islikely to result in responses from many individuals that can be used tofurther improve audience composition metrics.

In some examples, the redirecting barcode 122 is provided as part of arequest to recruit audience members as formal panelists in an audiencemeasurement panel. That is, in some examples, rather than, or inaddition to, using the census-wide delivery of the embedded code 111 totrigger a request for audience information specific to the particularmedia in which the code 111 was embedded, the code 111 may triggerrequests for viewers of the media to enroll as panelists who agree tohave their media viewing behavior tracked over time and associated withthe demographic information they provide. Whether the requestedinformation is limited to a particular media presentation or gearedtowards recruiting new panelist members, in some examples, the processmay be the same except that the website to which the portable device 118is directed is different. For example, when seeking panelists, thewebsite may request more detailed information and/or provide more detailregarding the nature of being a panelist (e.g., describing theexpectations and/or any incentives offers for enrollment) than whenrequesting the number of audience members and/or basic demographicdetails of the viewers of particular media.

In some examples, the media consumption behavior of people who agree tojoin an audience measurement panelist by completing an enrollmentprocedure via a website to which they were directed upon scanning theredirecting barcode 122 is based on the subsequent reporting of detectedcodes 111 embedded in the media by the audience measurement module 116.That is, after detailed demographic information has been collected froma person consenting to be a panelist, a new report is transmitted to thecentral facility 110 in response the audience measurement module 116detecting a new code 111 embedded in the media signal (e.g., every 2seconds, every 10 seconds, etc.), the report is associated with thepanelist and the collected demographic information for the panelist. Insuch examples, the collected information may not be sufficient todetermine how many individuals are viewing media via the media device104 at any particular time. However, the collected demographicinformation may provide some indication of the number of individualsliving in the household associated with the media device 104 and/or thegeneral viewing habits of each household individual to at least obtain amore detailed picture of who may be viewing the media at any given pointin time. Furthermore, in some examples, the enrollment process for apanelist may include a request for the panelist to periodicallysupplement the data collected in response to the detected codes withadditional information about the media consumption habits of thepanelist.

Other more traditional audience measurement panels often includeindividuals that have been provided with specialized equipment to tracktheir media consumption behavior, count the number of audience membersat any given point in time, and/or obtain more precise and/or detailedinformation. While the illustrated example may not enable the collectionof as precise and detailed information, the illustrated example can beexpanded to much larger populations than is feasible for a moretraditional panel that implements more robust audience measurementtechniques. Indeed, obtaining and tracking panelists in accordance withthe example of FIG. 1 can be accomplished by maintaining a website towhich audience members may be directed if interested in becomingpanelists, and maintaining servers at the central facility 110 toreceive the reports transmitted by the audience measurement module 116in response to detected codes embedded in media. Furthermore, thecensus-wide delivery of recruitment requests enables the ability toquickly and cost-effectively acquire panelists of potentially very largepopulations. Further still, in some examples, panelists identified inthis manner may be subsequently identified to become panelists in themore robust panels described above.

In addition to the audience measurement module 116 transmitting reportsto the central facility 110, in some examples, the central facility 110may transmit instructions and/or commands to the audience measurementmodule 116. For example, the central facility 110 may provideinstructions to the audience measurement module 116 defining when theaudience measurement module 116 is to provide a prompt to an audiencemember in response to detecting an embedded code 111. That is, while thecode 111 serves as the trigger to generate a prompt (e.g., to requestmore information and/or to invite a viewer to become an audience memberpanelist), in some examples, instructions from the central facility 110of the audience measurement entity may suppress such actions by theaudience measurement module 116. For example, once a person responds toa recruitment request and enrolls as a panelist, there may be no need tocontinue inviting that person to become a panelist. Accordingly, in somesuch examples, the central facility 110 may instruct the audiencemeasurement module 116 to stop generating prompts on the screen 114 whena new code 111 is detected in a media stream being presented on thescreen 114.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example implementation of the examplemedia encoder 108 of FIG. 1. The example media encoder 108 includes anexample communications interface 202, an example code generator 204, anexample embedder 206, and an example database 208. The examplecommunications interface 202, which may be implemented by a modem orother communication device, serves to communicate with one or more ofthe audience measurement module 116 of the media device 104, or thecentral facility 110. In some examples, the communications interface 202serves to receive media to be modified by the media encoder 108 and/ordata to be used in modifying the media. In some examples, the data usedto modify the media includes media identifying information provided bythe central facility 110 and incorporated into codes embedded into themedia (e.g., the code 111). Such data may be stored in the database 208.Additionally, the communications interface 202 serves to transmit themodified media for distribution to audience members for consumption.

In the illustrated example, the media encoder 108 includes the examplecode generator 204 to generate a code (e.g., the code 111 of FIG. 1)with relevant information to be embedded into the media. In someexamples, the information represented in the code 111 includes atimestamp corresponding to when the media is transmitted fordistribution to audience members. In some examples, the informationrepresented in the code 111 includes media identifying information toidentify the media into which the code 111 is to be embedded. In someexamples, the media identifying information includes a source of themedia (e.g., a station ID for the media broadcast signal) that can beused in conjunction with the timestamp to determine the particular mediapresentation containing the code 111 by looking up a programmingschedule or lineup of media from the identified source at the identifiedtime. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the mediaidentifying information includes information uniquely identifying themedia presentation being transmitted such as, for example, a televisionseries name, a season and episode number, a movie title, a year ofrelease, etc. In some examples, the media identifying information is amedia content ID that may be used to look up such information in adatabase.

The example code generator 204 may encode additional information intothe code 111, as appropriate. In some examples, the code 111 may includea URL corresponding to a website through which people may provideaudience measurement data (e.g., people counts, demographics, etc.)and/or enroll as audience measurement panelists. In this manner, theembedded code 111 may provide the information to be used by an audiencemeasurement module 116 of a media device 104 to generate a redirectingbarcode 122 for a viewer to scan and access the website. In someexamples, the embedded code 111 is a barcode that is the same as theredirecting barcode 122. That is, in some examples, the embedded code111 may be duplicated by the audience measurement module 116 for displayvia a screen 114 as the redirecting barcode 122 for a viewer to scanwithout any additional processing on the part of the audiencemeasurement module 116 beyond detecting the embedded code 111.

In the illustrated example of FIG. 2, the media encoder 108 is providedwith the example embedder 206 to embed the code 111 generated by thecode generator 204 into a media signal. In some examples, the embedder206 analyzes the media to determine a size and/or placement of the code111 in the video stream of the media. In some examples, the size and/orplacement of the code 111 may fixed to a particular region and/or one ofa plurality of fixed regions. The size and/or placement may be based onhaving the code 111 be as inconspicuous and/or unnoticeable as possible.For example, the code may be placed near a corner of the display of themedia and have a relatively small size (e.g., less than 20 pixels wide).

Further, in some examples, the embedder 206 determines the timing forembedding the code 111 into the media to reduce the noticeability of thecode 111 to a human viewer. For example, the embedder 206 may embed thecode 111 within a single frame of the video stream so that the code 111would only flash for a short period of time corresponding to the framerate of the media. That is, the code 111 may not be embedded in adjacentvideo frames immediately before and after the video frame containing thebarcode. However, the code 111 may be embedded in multiple frames of thevideo stream spaced apart at intervals (e.g., every two seconds, everyten seconds, etc.). In some such examples, successive codes 111 may beslightly different because different codes 111 include differenttimestamp information. In some examples, the embedder 206 may vary theinterval between any two successive codes 111 depending on the contentof the media. For example, the embedder 206 may analyze the media toidentify particular frames in which the designated area for the code 111includes an appearance that would make the code 111 less noticeable to aviewer (e.g., when the area is multi-colored and/or characterized bypixels with varying intensities).

While an example manner of implementing the media encoder 108 of FIG. 1is illustrated in FIG. 2, one or more of the elements, processes and/ordevices illustrated in FIG. 2 may be combined, divided, re-arranged,omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any other way. Further, theexample communications interface 202, the example code generator 204,the example embedder 206, the example database 208, and/or, moregenerally, the example media encoder 108 of FIG. 2 may be implemented byhardware, software, firmware and/or any combination of hardware,software and/or example communications interface 202, the example codegenerator 204, the example embedder 206, the example database 208firmware. Thus, for example, any of the example communications interface202, the example code generator 204, the example embedder 206, theexample database 208, and/or, more generally, the example media encoder108 could be implemented by one or more analog or digital circuit(s),logic circuits, programmable processor(s), application specificintegrated circuit(s) (ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s) (PLD(s))and/or field programmable logic device(s) (FPLD(s)). When reading any ofthe apparatus or system claims of this patent to cover a purely softwareand/or firmware implementation, at least one of the examplecommunications interface 202, the example code generator 204, theexample embedder 206, and/or the example database 208 is/are herebyexpressly defined to include a tangible computer readable storage deviceor storage disk such as a memory, a digital versatile disk (DVD), acompact disk (CD), a Blu-ray disk, etc. storing the software and/orfirmware. Further still, the example media encoder 108 of FIG. 1 mayinclude one or more elements, processes and/or devices in addition to,or instead of, those illustrated in FIG. 2, and/or may include more thanone of any or all of the illustrated elements, processes and devices.For example, the media encoder 108 may additional include functionalityto encode audio watermarks and/or any other types of metadata used foraudience measurement purposes into the media before distribution toaudience members.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example implementation of the exampleaudience measurement module 116 of FIG. 1. The example audiencemeasurement module 116 includes an example communications interface 302,an example analyzer 304, an example report generator 306, an examplemedia output modifier 308, an example user feedback monitor 310, anexample scheduler 312, an example media sampler 313, and an examplememory 314. The example communications interface 302, which may beimplemented by a modem or other communication device, serves tocommunicate with one or more of the media provider 102, or the centralfacility 110. In some examples, the communications interface 202 servesto receive media distributed by the media provider 102 to which themedia device 104 is tuned. As described above, in the illustratedexample, the media received by the communications interface 302 includesone or more embedded codes 111 into the media with encoded mediaidentifying information, a timestamp, and/or other relevant information.Further, the example communications interface 302 enables communicationswith the central facility 110 of an audience measurement entity via thenetwork 106.

In the illustrated example of FIG. 3, the audience measurement module116 is provided with the example analyzer 304 to analyze a media signalreceived via the communications interface 302 to detect and decode acode 111 embedded in the media. In some examples, where the size andplacement of the code 111 is fixed, the analyzer 304 specificallymonitors the fixed area where the embedded code 111 is to appear. Wherethe size and/or placement of the embedded code 111 may vary, theanalyzer 304 may analyze each video frame in its entirety to detect theembedded code 111. Once the example analyzer 304 detects an embeddedcode 111, the analyzer 304 decodes the code to extract the informationrepresented by the code.

In some examples, the report generator 306 uses the information decodedfrom the embedded code 111 to generate a report to be transmitted to thecentral facility 110. In some examples, the report may include theembedded code 111 to be decoded at the central facility 110. In someexamples, the report may include the information decoded from theembedded code 111 and arranged in a different format. The report mayalso include device identifying information to identify the media device104 containing the audience measurement module 116 from which the reportwas sent. For example, the device identifying information may include aserial number of the media device 104. By including device identifyinginformation in the report, the central facility 110 may associatedifferent reports transmitted at different times (e.g., in response todifferent codes) when they are received from the same media device 104.Additionally or alternatively, the report may include an IP addressassociated with the media device 104 that may be used to determine ageneral location of the media device 104. In some examples, the IPaddress may be used as the device identifying information to uniquelyidentify the media device 104.

In some examples, the report is automatically generated by the reportgenerator 306 and transmitted each time the analyzer 304 detects anembedded code 111. In other examples, the report generator 306 maygenerate a report associated with multiple codes 111 detected by theanalyzer 304 over a period of time. In some such examples, the reportmay be transmitted after a threshold number of codes have been detected,after a threshold period of time has elapsed since last transmitting areport, and/or after the size of the report exceeds a threshold size inthe memory 314.

In the illustrated example of FIG. 3, the audience measurement module116 is provided with the media output modifier 308 to modify an outputor display of the media via the screen 114 of the media presentationdevice 112. In some examples, the media output modifier 308 modifies theoutput to include a prompt to viewers of the media presentation device112 to take some form of action. In some examples, the prompt is arequest for the viewers to provide additional audience measurement databeyond what is available from decoding the embedded code 111. Forexample, the prompt may request viewers to specify the number ofindividual audience members viewing the media via the particular mediadevice 104 and/or to provide additional information about such viewers(e.g., demographic information (gender, age, etc.)). Additionally oralternatively, in some examples, the prompt may request the viewers toenroll and/or inquire about their willingness to enroll as panelists inan audience measurement panel. In some examples, viewers may provideuser feedback to the prompts via a remote control of the media device104.

In some examples, the media output modifier 308 modifies the display ofthe media to include a redirecting barcode 122 provided on the screen114 for the viewers to scan with a portable device 118. In someexamples, the redirecting barcode 122 includes a URL to automaticallydirect a browser of the portable device 118 to a website set up toreceive additional audience measurement data as requested in the promptsdescribed above. Redirecting viewers to a website enables the viewers toprovide feedback without the need for the viewers to awkwardly entertheir feedback using a remote control that may not be designed to easilyprovide such information. That is, the website may facilitate thecollection of additional and/or more detailed information than what maybe practical when using a remote control directly. Further, redirectinga viewer to a website on a second screen device reduces the amount oftime prompts and/or other information is taking up space on the screen114 of the primary device where the media is being presented. Furtherstill, redirecting a viewer to a website on a second screen deviceenables the viewer to delay providing the requested information if, forexample, the viewer does not want to be distracted at the moment whileviewing the media.

In some examples, the redirecting barcode 122 presented for scanning isthe same as the embedded code 111 detected in the media signal thattriggered the display of the redirecting barcode 122. In some examples,the redirecting barcode 122 may be different than the embedded code 111but based on content in the embedded code 111. In some examples, theredirecting barcode 122 is stored in the memory 314 and contains contentthat is fixed and independent of the content of the embedded code 111 inthe media signal.

In the illustrated example of FIG. 3, the audience measurement module116 is provided with the user feedback monitor 310 to detect userresponses to displayed prompts and to initiate any subsequent actionbased on the user response. For example, if the prompt requests a viewerto specify, via the remote control, the number of individual audiencemembers presently viewing the media presented via the media device 112,the user feedback monitor 310 may detect the number specified andprovide such to the report generator 306 to include in a report to betransmitted to the central facility 110.

As another example, if the prompt inquires whether a viewer would beinterested in becoming an audience measurement panelist, the userfeedback monitor 310 may detect when the viewer provides a user responseindicating an interest in becoming a panelist (e.g., by pressing an OKbutton on the remote control in response to the prompt) and theninstruct the media output modifier 308 to provide a redirecting barcode122 for the viewer to scan to access more information about theenrollment process and/or to complete the enrollment process. Thus, insome examples, the redirecting barcode 122 is presented after the userfeedback monitor 310 identifies a user response to a previously providedprompt indicating an interest of the viewer in becoming a panelist. Insome examples, the redirecting barcode 122 may be presentedautomatically in response to the analyzer 304 detecting an embedded code111 in the media. In some such examples, the redirecting barcode 122 maybe presented along with an explanation of the purpose of the barcode 122to the viewer as shown by the prompt 124 in FIG. 1.

In the illustrated example of FIG. 3, the audience measurement module116 is provided with example scheduler 312 to schedule or coordinatewhen the media output modifier 308 is to modify the display of the mediato include a prompt and/or a redirecting barcode 122 to redirect asecond screen device to a designated website. While such prompts may betriggered upon the analyzer 304 detecting an embedded code 111 in themedia, it may be desirable to limit how often such prompts art actuallyprovided. For instances, while codes 111 may be embedded into the mediaat intervals of approximately every two seconds, prompting a viewer toprovide additional information and/or to becoming a panelist at the samefrequency would likely annoy the viewer. Accordingly, in some examples,the scheduler 312 suppresses the display of prompts in response todetected codes 111 embedded in media according to a specified schedule.In some examples, the schedule may define a threshold period of timebetween successive displays of a prompt and/or a redirecting barcode 122for scanning. The threshold period of time may be corresponding to one aweek, one a month, or any other suitable time frame. In some examples,the schedule and/or rules defining the schedule are stored in the memory314. In some examples, the schedule is defined based on user responsedata collected by the user feedback monitor 310. For example, thethreshold period of time after initially displaying a prompt and/or aredirecting barcode 122 may be longer if the viewer provided a userresponse positively declining to provide additional information orenroll as a panelist (e.g., selecting a “No thanks” option via a remotecontrol) than if the viewer merely ignored the prompt without positivelyresponding.

Further, if the viewer agrees to enroll as a panelist, the scheduler 312may suppress subsequent prompts for the viewer to become a panelistindefinitely and/or for a threshold period of time needed to confirmwhether the viewer completed the enrollment process. In some examples,confirmation of enrollment may be provided by the viewer via subsequentinputs via a remote control of the media device 104. For example, afterenrolling as a panelist, the audience measurement entity may provideinformation to the panelist (e.g., via email and/or any other means)that may be entered into the settings of the audience measurement module116 to cause the scheduler 312 to suppress future invitations to becomea panelist. In some examples, confirmation of a viewer enrolling as anaudience measurement panelist may be provided to the audiencemeasurement module 116 directly from the central facility 110 of theaudience measurement entity without the subsequent involvement of thenew panelist.

Additionally or alternatively, the scheduler 312 may define the timingfor providing prompts to viewers based on other input received from thecentral facility 110. For example, the audience measurement entity maydesire a greater number of panelists in a particular geographic region.Therefore, the central facility 110 may provide instructions to thescheduler 312 of audience measurement modules 116 having IP addresses inthe region of interest to increase the frequency that recruitmentrequest prompts are provided to viewers of the associated media devices104. In some examples, input from the central facility 110 may defineall times when prompts are to be provided to viewers. That is, in someexamples, the scheduler 312 may suppress the display of such promptsunless instructed otherwise by the central facility 110.

In some examples, the analyzer 304 may not detect a code 111 embedded into the media. This may be because the media provider 102 does not have amedia encoder 108 to embed such codes and/or because the media provider102 otherwise determines not to embed a code 111 in the media. In someexamples, when the analyzer 304 fails to detect an embedded code 111,the media sampler 313 collects a sample of the media that may be used toidentify the media. That is, in some examples, the media sampler 313collects a segment of the media that is to be used as a media signatureto uniquely identify the media. The media sample may be audio based,video based, or both audio and video based. In some examples, the mediasampler 313 samples specific portions of the media likely to includemedia identifying information. For example, the media sampler 313 mayfocus on a corner of the video stream of the media where it is likelythat a station logo or other identifying information may be displayed.Other portions of the video and/or audio stream of the media may becollected by the media sampler 313.

In some examples, the report generator 306 may generate a report to betransmitted to the central facility 110 that includes the media samplecollected by the media sampler 313. Such reports may also includeadditional information such as device identifying information, IPaddress information, a timestamp, and/or any other suitable informationthat would to enable the central facility 110 to identify the mediasampled by the media sampler 313 and associate the media was the mediadevice 104 containing the audience measurement module 116 that generatedthe report. In some examples, the media sampler 313 may collect a mediasample from the media in addition to the analyzer 304 detecting a code111 embedded in the media. In some such examples, both the code 111 (oraudience measurement data reference by the code 111) and the mediasample may be included in a report generated by the report generator306.

While an example manner of implementing the audience measurement module116 of FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIG. 3, one or more of the elements,processes and/or devices illustrated in FIG. 3 may be combined, divided,re-arranged, omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any other way.Further, the example communications interface 302, the example analyzer304, the example report generator 306, the example media output modifier308, the example user feedback monitor 310, the example scheduler 312,the example media sampler 313, the example memory 314, and/or, moregenerally, the example audience measurement module 116 of FIG. 3 may beimplemented by hardware, software, firmware and/or any combination ofhardware, software and/or firmware. Thus, for example, any of theexample communications interface 302, the example analyzer 304, theexample report generator 306, the example media output modifier 308, theexample user feedback monitor 310, the example scheduler 312, theexample media sampler 313, the example memory 314, and/or, moregenerally, the example audience measurement module 116 could beimplemented by one or more analog or digital circuit(s), logic circuits,programmable processor(s), application specific integrated circuit(s)(ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s) (PLD(s)) and/or fieldprogrammable logic device(s) (FPLD(s)). When reading any of theapparatus or system claims of this patent to cover a purely softwareand/or firmware implementation, at least one of the examplecommunications interface 302, the example analyzer 304, the examplereport generator 306, the example media output modifier 308, the exampleuser feedback monitor 310, the example scheduler 312, the example mediasampler 313, and/or the example memory 314 is/are hereby expresslydefined to include a tangible computer readable storage device orstorage disk such as a memory, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a compactdisk (CD), a Blu-ray disk, etc. storing the software and/or firmware.Further still, the example audience measurement module 116 of FIG. 1 mayinclude one or more elements, processes and/or devices in addition to,or instead of, those illustrated in FIG. 3, and/or may include more thanone of any or all of the illustrated elements, processes and devices.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example implementation of the examplecentral facility 110 of FIG. 1. The example central facility includes anexample communications interface 402, an example analyzer 404, anexample request coordinator 406, and an example database 408. Theexample communications interface 402, which may be implemented by amodem or other communication device, serves to communicate with one ormore of the media provider 102, the audience measurement module 116 ofthe media device 104, or the portable device 118 via the network 106. Insome examples, the central facility 110 provides media identifyinginformation via the communications interface 402 to the media provider102 for encoding in codes 111 to be embedded in the media provided toend users. In some examples, the central facility 110 may provide thecodes 111 previously encoded with relevant information for embedding inmedia.

In some examples, the communications interface 402 of the centralfacility 110 receives audience measurement data from the reportsgenerated by the report generator 306 of the audience measurement module116. In some examples, the received audience measurement data is storedin the example database 408. Additionally, in some examples, the centralfacility 110 maintains a website used to collect additional audiencemeasurement data (e.g., demographics information) to which the portabledevices 118 of media viewers are directed upon scanning barcodes 122displayed via the media devices 104 as described above. In someexamples, the communications interface 402 of the central facility 110receives such information submitted via the website.

In some examples, the communications interface 302 is used tocommunicate with third party media device manufacturers and/or mediadevice application developers. More particularly, the examplecommunications interface 302 may provide a software development kitand/or other information needed to embed and/or incorporate the audiencemeasurement module 116 into media devices 104 owned by end users. Insome examples, media devices 104 may be manufactured with the audiencemeasurement module 116 already incorporated before sale to end users. Inother examples, previously purchased media devices 104 may be updatedwith software that executes the audience measurement module 116. In someexamples, the communications interface 402 provides the audiencemeasurement module 116 directly to an end user for execution on themedia device 104.

In the illustrated example of FIG. 4, the central facility 110 isprovided with the example analyzer 404 to analyze the collected audiencemeasurement data to determine the size and/or composition of audiencesof media and/or generate reports of any other audience measurementmetrics. In some examples, the audience measurement data is based on thereports generated by the audience measurement module 116 in response todetecting codes 111 embedded in a media signal. The analyzer 404 maydetermine the particular media being presented via any particular mediadevice 104 based on the timestamp and/or media identifying informationcontained in the detected code 111 and included in the reporttransmitted to the central facility 110. For example, the analyzer 404may look up a programming schedule (e.g., stored in the example database408) corresponding to a particular station identifier (SID) extractedfrom the detected code 111 to determine the particular mediapresentation being played via the media device 104 at the time indicatedin the timestamp included in the embedded code 111. In some examples,where the media identifying information is content specific (e.g.,uniquely identifies a particular program), the central facility 110 maylook up the corresponding content in a database (e.g., the database408).

Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the audiencemeasurement data analyzed by the example analyzer 404 is based on thereports generated by the audience measurement module 116 in response tofailing to detect codes 111 embedded in a media signal. That is, in someexamples, the analyzer 404 analyzes media samples contained in thereports from the audience measurement module 116 collected by the mediasampler 313. The analyzer 404 may determine the particular media beingpresented via any particular media device 104 by matching the mediasample to reference media signatures stored in the database 408. In someexamples, the matching signatures may enable the direct identificationof the content of the media. In some examples, the matching signaturesmay be able to identify the source of the media based on the mediasample (e.g., via a station logo) that can then be used to uniquelyidentify the content of the media by looking up the content in aprogramming schedule for the identified source of media using thetimestamp included in the report with the media sample.

In some examples, the reports providing the audience measurement dataanalyzed by the analyzer 404 may be obtained from a large number (e.g.,hundreds of thousands or millions) of media devices 104 implementing theaudience measurement module 116, thus, enabling census-type audiencemeasurement. While the audience measurement data contained in suchreports may identify the media being presented via each reporting mediadevice 104 for a very large population, there may be little to noinformation concerning the particular number of individual audiencemembers viewing the media presented via any particular media device 104and/or the demographics of such audience members. Accordingly, in someexamples, the analyzer 404 determines the size and/or composition of anaudience for a particular media presentation at a level of granularitycorresponding to individual media presentation devices. In someexamples, the analyzer 404 uses IP geolocation to determine approximatelocations of the reporting media devices 104 to determine an approximategeographic distribution of the audience of a particular mediapresentation. Furthermore, in some examples, the analyzer 404 may infercertain demographic characteristics of the individuals in the householdscontaining the media devices 104 based on the approximate locations ofthe media devices 104.

In some examples, the analyzer 404 analyzes additional audiencemeasurement data to determine individual audience member counts and/ordemographics of certain audience members based on feedback provided bythe audience members responding to requests for the additionalinformation. In some examples, such requests are presented to theaudience members via the media device 104 in response to detecting anembedded code 111 in the media. In some examples, viewers may provideuser responses to such requests directly via a remote control of themedia device 104. In such examples, the additional audience measurementdata may be included in the reports transmitted to the central facility110 by the audience measurement module 116. In other examples, therequest for additional information may include presenting a redirectingbarcode 122 on the screen 114 where the media is being presented for aviewer to scan with a portable device 118 to be directed to a websitethrough which the additional information may be provided. Thus, in someexamples, viewers may provide user responses to requests for additionalinformation indirectly via a website designated in the barcode 122presented to the viewer.

In some examples, the additional audience measurement data provided byaudience members is provided in connection with the audience membersenrolling as panelists in an audience measurement panel. That is, insome examples, the request presented via the media device 104 is arequest for a viewer to become a panelist and the website to which theviewer is directed enables completion of the enrollment process. In somesuch examples, the analyzer 404 analyzes the demographic informationand/or other details obtained during the panel enrollment process viathe website and associates such information with the audiencemeasurement data obtained via the reports transmitted by the audiencemeasurement module 116 of the media device 104. In this manner, theanalyzer 404 may determine more particular characteristics of anaudience of media. Furthermore, while not all audience members mayrespond to the requests for additional audience measurement data (e.g.,to enroll as a panelist), it is likely that a relatively largepopulation of audience members will still respond to such requestsbecause the requests are being delivered on a census-wide scale (e.g.,via every media device 104 containing the audience measurement module116). For example, it may be that only 2% of audience members arewilling to become panelists. However, if over 50 million households owna media device 104 that implements the audience measurement module 116,people in some or all 50 million households may receive requests to joinan audience measurement panel resulting in approximately 1 millionbecoming panelists. Thus, even with a very small percentage of viewersresponding to the requests, the analyzer 404 will nevertheless have alarge amount of audience measurement data for robust analysis of thesize and/or composition of audiences.

In the illustrated example of FIG. 4, the central facility 110 isprovided with the example request coordinator 406 to direct orcoordinate the delivery of requests for audience members to becomepanelists of an audience measurement panel. As described above, in someexamples, the requests are presented via the media device 104 inresponse to detecting an embedded code 111 in media being presented viathe media device 104. However, it may be undesirable to provide a promptor request for a viewer to become a panelist as frequently as the codes111 are detected because it may annoy and frustrate audience members.Accordingly, in some examples, the request coordinator 406 generatesinstructions that are transmitted to the audience measurement module 116to define when and/or how often such requests are provided. In someexamples, once a person associated with a particular media device 104has volunteered and enrolled as a panelist, the request coordinator 406directs the audience measurement module 116 to stop providing futurerequests for additional audience measurement data. In some examples, therequest coordinator 406 may determine the geographic distribution ofpanelists and identify potential regions that are underrepresented inthe panel. In some such examples, the request coordinator 406 may targetaudience measurement modules 116 located in such regions (determinedbased on IP geolocation) to increase the pool of panelists in the regionby instructing the audience measurement modules 116 to increase thefrequency of requests provided to the audience members.

While an example manner of implementing the central facility 110 of FIG.1 is illustrated in FIG. 4, one or more of the elements, processesand/or devices illustrated in FIG. 4 may be combined, divided,re-arranged, omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any other way.Further, the example communications interface 402, the example analyzer404, the example request coordinator 406, the example database 408,and/or, more generally, the example central facility 110 of FIG. 4 maybe implemented by hardware, software, firmware and/or any combination ofhardware, software and/or firmware. Thus, for example, any of theexample communications interface 402, the example analyzer 404, theexample request coordinator 406, the example database 408, and/or, moregenerally, the example audience measurement module 116 could beimplemented by one or more analog or digital circuit(s), logic circuits,programmable processor(s), application specific integrated circuit(s)(ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s) (PLD(s)) and/or fieldprogrammable logic device(s) (FPLD(s)). When reading any of theapparatus or system claims of this patent to cover a purely softwareand/or firmware implementation, at least one of the examplecommunications interface 402, the example analyzer 404, the examplerequest coordinator 406, and/or the example database 408 is/are herebyexpressly defined to include a tangible computer readable storage deviceor storage disk such as a memory, a digital versatile disk (DVD), acompact disk (CD), a Blu-ray disk, etc. storing the software and/orfirmware. Further still, the example central facility 110 of FIG. 1 mayinclude one or more elements, processes and/or devices in addition to,or instead of, those illustrated in FIG. 4, and/or may include more thanone of any or all of the illustrated elements, processes and devices.

Flowcharts representative of example machine readable instructions forimplementing the example media encoder 108 of FIG. 2, the exampleaudience measurement module 116 of FIG. 3, and/or the example centralfacility 110 of FIG. 4 are shown in FIGS. 5-10. In this example, themachine readable instructions comprise a program for execution by aprocessor such as the processors 1112, 1212, 1312 shown in the exampleprocessor platforms 1100, 1200, 1300 discussed below in connection withFIGS. 11-13. The programs may be embodied in software stored on atangible computer readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a floppydisk, a hard drive, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a Blu-ray disk, or amemory associated with the processors 1112, 1212, 1312, but the entireprogram and/or parts thereof could alternatively be executed by a deviceother than the processors 1112, 1212, 1312 and/or embodied in firmwareor dedicated hardware. Further, although the example programs aredescribed with reference to the flowchart illustrated in FIGS. 5-10,many other methods of implementing the example media encoder 108, theexample audience measurement module 116, and/or the example centralfacility 110 may alternatively be used. For example, the order ofexecution of the blocks may be changed, and/or some of the blocksdescribed may be changed, eliminated, or combined.

As mentioned above, the example processes of FIGS. 5-10 may beimplemented using coded instructions (e.g., computer and/or machinereadable instructions) stored on a tangible computer readable storagemedium such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a read-only memory(ROM), a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a cache, arandom-access memory (RAM) and/or any other storage device or storagedisk in which information is stored for any duration (e.g., for extendedtime periods, permanently, for brief instances, for temporarilybuffering, and/or for caching of the information). As used herein, theterm tangible computer readable storage medium is expressly defined toinclude any type of computer readable storage device and/or storage diskand to exclude propagating signals and to exclude transmission media. Asused herein, “tangible computer readable storage medium” and “tangiblemachine readable storage medium” are used interchangeably. Additionallyor alternatively, the example processes of FIGS. 5-10 may be implementedusing coded instructions (e.g., computer and/or machine readableinstructions) stored on a non-transitory computer and/or machinereadable medium such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a read-onlymemory, a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a cache, arandom-access memory and/or any other storage device or storage disk inwhich information is stored for any duration (e.g., for extended timeperiods, permanently, for brief instances, for temporarily buffering,and/or for caching of the information). As used herein, the termnon-transitory computer readable medium is expressly defined to includeany type of computer readable storage device and/or storage disk and toexclude propagating signals and to exclude transmission media. As usedherein, when the phrase “at least” is used as the transition term in apreamble of a claim, it is open-ended in the same manner as the term“comprising” is open ended.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart representative of example machine-readableinstructions that may be executed to implement the example media encoder108 of FIGS. 1 and/or 2. The example process begins at block 502, wherethe example embedder 206 analyzes media to be distributed to anaudience. In some examples, the embedder 206 analyzes the media toidentify the size and/or placement for a code (e.g., the code 111 ofFIG. 1) to be embedded into the video stream of the media. In someexamples, the code 111 is to be embedded in a fixed region (or one of aplurality of fixed regions) within the video stream. In some suchexamples, the embedder 206 analyzes the fixed region(s) to determinewhether the media content in the fixed region(s) is suitable to embed acode 111 in a manner that is unlikely to be perceived by a human viewer.

At block 504, the example embedder 206 determines whether it is time toembed a code 111 in the media. In some examples, a code 111 is scheduledto be embedded at periodic intervals (e.g., every two seconds). In someexamples, the intervals between successive codes may vary depending onthe analysis of the media and/or for any other reason. If it is not timeto embed a code 111, control returns to block 502. If the embedder 206determines that it is time to embed a code 111, control advances toblock 506 where the example code generator 204 generates a code 111 withaudience measurement data. In some examples, the generated code 111 isan encoded barcode. In some examples, the audience measurement datarepresented in the code 111 includes media identifying informationassociated with the media stored in the database 208. In some examples,the media identifying information is provided by an audience measuremententity. Further, in some examples, the audience measurement datarepresented in the code 111 includes a timestamp.

At block 508, the example embedder 206 embeds the code 111 in the media.At block 510, the example communications interface 202 transmits themedia for distribution. At block 512, the example media encoder 108determines whether there is more media. If so, control returns to block502. Otherwise, the example process of FIG. 5 ends.

FIGS. 6-8 are flowcharts representative of example machine-readableinstructions that may be executed to implement the example audiencemeasurement module 116 of FIGS. 1 and/or 3. The example process of FIG.6 begins at block 602 where the example analyzer 304 analyzes mediapresented via the media device 104. At block 604, the example analyzer304 determines whether a code 111 is embedded in the media. The code 111may be a barcode, a bit stream, and/or any other type of code encodedinto the video stream of the media. If the example analyzer 304 does notdetect a code 111 embedded in the media, control advances to block 606where the example media sampler 313 determines whether to sample themedia. In some examples, the media sampler 313 may determine to samplethe media if a first threshold period of time (e.g., 1 minute, 5minutes, 10 minutes, etc.) has elapsed during the presentation of mediavia the media device 104 during which no embedded code 111 was detected(block 604). Further, in some examples, the media sampler 313 maydetermine to sample the media only when a second threshold period oftime (e.g., 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, etc.) has elapsed since asample of the media was last collected. The first and second thresholdperiods of time may be coterminous or begin after different times.Further the first and second threshold periods of time may correspond tothe same length of time or different lengths of time.

If the example media sampler 313 determines not the sample the media,control returns to block 602. If the example media sampler 313determines to the sample the media, control advances to block 608 wherethe example media sampler 313 samples the media. At block 610, theexample report generator 306 generates a report based on the sampledmedia. Thereafter, control advances to block 624 where the examplecommunications interface 302 transmits the report to a central facility110.

Returning to block 604, if the example analyzer 304 does detect a code111, control advances to block 612 where the example analyzer 304decodes the code 111. In some examples, the code 111 contains audiencemeasurement data associated with the media including a timestamp andmedia identifying information. At block 614, the example scheduler 312determines whether to request additional audience measurement data froma viewer of the media. If so, control advances to block 616 where theexample media output modifier 308 provides a prompt requesting theviewer to provide additional audience measurement data. In someexamples, the prompt may request the viewer to specify the number ofpeople viewing the media. In some examples, the prompt may request theviewer to specify other information about the people viewing the media(e.g., gender, age, etc.). In some examples, the prompt includes anexplanation as to how the viewer is to respond using a remote control ofthe media device 104.

While the prompt may request user feedback, the viewer may ignore orfail to notice the prompt. Accordingly, at block 618, the example userfeedback monitor 310 determines whether a user response was receivedwithin a threshold period of time (e.g., 15 seconds, 30 seconds, 1minute, etc.). If so, control advances to block 620 where the examplereport generator 306 generates a report based on the user response dataprovided by the viewer and the audience measurement data associated withthe detected code 111.

Returning to block 614, if the example scheduler 312 determines not torequest additional audience measurement data from the viewer, controladvances to block 622 where the example report generator 306 generates areport based on the audience measurement data associated with thedetected code 111. That is, the report generated at block 622 will notinclude any additional audience measurement data based on user responsedata because no request was provided to obtain such information.Similarly, at block 618, if the example user feedback monitor 310determines that a user response was not received within a thresholdperiod of time, control advances directly to block 622.

Once the report has been generated either including information based onthe user response data (block 620) or without information based on auser response (block 622), control advances to block 624 where theexample communications interface 302 transmits the report to a centralfacility 110. At block 626, the example audience measurement module 116determines whether to continue. If so, control returns to block 602.Otherwise, the example process of FIG. 6 ends.

The example process of FIG. 7 begins at block 702 where the exampleanalyzer 304 analyzes media presented via the media device 104. At block704, the example analyzer 304 determines whether a code 111 is embeddedin the media. If the example analyzer 304 does not detect a code 111embedded in the media, control returns to block 702. In some examples,if the example analyzer 304 does not detect a code 111 embedded in themedia, the media sampler 313 may determine to sample the media toinclude in a report as discussed above in connection with blocks 606,608, and 610 of FIG. 6. However, these blocks have been omitted in FIG.7 for the sake of clarity. If the example analyzer 304 does detect acode 111 (block 704), control advances to block 706 where the exampleanalyzer 304 decodes the code 111. In some examples, the code 111contains audience measurement data associated with the media including atimestamp and/or media identifying information.

At block 708, the example scheduler 312 determines whether a personassociated with the media device 104 has already enrolled as an audiencemeasurement panelist. In some examples, whether a person has alreadyenrolled as a panelist is determined based on information received froman audience measurement entity reporting the enrollment to the audiencemeasurement module 116 via the central facility 110. Additionally oralternatively, enrollment of people as panelists may be confirmed by thepeople themselves providing user inputs to the audience measurementmodule 116 of the media device 104. In some examples, the user inputsmay be based on instructions provided to the people from the audiencemeasurement entity as part of the enrollment process.

If no person has already enrolled as an audience measurement panelist,control advances to block 710 where the example scheduler 312 determineswhether an invitation to enroll as an audience measurement panelist haspreviously been extended via the media device 104. If so, controladvances to block 712 where the example scheduler 312 determines whetherto request enrollment again. In some examples, whether to requestenrollment again is based on how long it has been since the last timethe invitation was extended. In some examples, the duration betweensubsequent invitations to enroll as a panelist may vary based on whetherviewers positively declined a previous invitation or merely did notrespond to the invitation. Additionally or alternatively, in someexamples, the timing for enrollment requests may be based oninstructions received from an audience measurement entity via thecentral facility 110.

If the example scheduler 312 determines to request enrollment again,control advances to block 714 where the audience measurement module 116requests a viewer to enroll as an audience measurement panelist.Returning to block 710, if an invitation to enroll has not previouslybeen extended via the media device 104, control advances directly toblock 714 to request a viewer to enroll as an audience measurementpanelist. Further detail regarding the execution of block 714 isdescribed below in connection with FIG. 8.

At block 716, the example report generator 306 generates a report basedon user response data provided by the viewer and the audiencemeasurement data associated with the detected code 111. As describedmore fully below in connection with FIG. 8, the user response data mayinclude whether the viewer agrees to enroll as a panelist or declines toenroll as a panelist. Such user response data may inform how soon, ifever, the viewer is to be again invited to become a panelist (e.g., thenext time the process executes blocks 708, 710, and 712).

Returning to block 708, if the example scheduler 312 determines a personassociated with the media device 104 has already enrolled as an audiencemeasurement panelist control advances to block 718. At block 718, theexample report generator 306 generates a report based on the audiencemeasurement data associated with the detected code 111. That is, thereport generated at block 718 will not include any user response dataobtained from the viewer because the viewer will already have providedsuch information as part of the enrollment process to become a panelist.Similarly, returning to block 712, if the example scheduler 312determines not to request enrollment again, control advances directly toblock 718 to generate a report without user response data because nouser response data will have been collected.

Once the report has been generated either including information based onthe user response data (block 716) or without information based on auser response data (block 718), control advances to block 720 where theexample communications interface 302 transmits the report to a centralfacility 110. At block 722, the example audience measurement module 116determines whether to continue. If so, control returns to block 702.Otherwise, the example process of FIG. 7 ends.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example implementation of block714 of FIG. 7 to request a viewer to enroll as an audience measurementpanelist. The example process of FIG. 8 begins at block 802 where theexample media output modifier 308 provides a prompt for a viewer toaccept a request to enroll as an audience measurement panelist. Forexample, a text prompt may be displayed on screen that states “Would yoube interested in becoming an audience measurement panelist?” along witha direction to select a “YES” option or a “NO THANKS” option with aremote control of the media device 104. Any other suitable languageand/or selection options may alternatively be provided for the viewer toconsider. For example, the initial prompt may be more direct in gettinga commitment from viewers by stating “Will you become an audiencemeasurement panelist?” or less direct by stating “Would you like tolearn more about becoming an audience measurement panelist?”

At block 804, the example user feedback monitor 310 determines whether auser response was received within a threshold period of time (e.g., 15seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, etc.). The user response may be that theviewer declines the invitation to becoming a panelist or that the vieweraccepts the invitation to become a panelist (or at least to learn morebefore deciding). In some situations, the viewer may not provide aresponse because the viewer chooses to ignore the prompt and/or does notnotice the prompt.

If the example user feedback monitor 310 determines that a user responsewas received within the threshold period of time (block 804), controladvances to block 806 where the example user feedback monitor 310determines whether the user response indicates an interest in becoming apanelist. If so, control advances to block 808 where the example mediaoutput modifier 308 provides a barcode (e.g., the redirecting barcode122 of FIG. 1) for display on screen for the viewer to scan. In someexamples, the barcode 122 is displayed alongside the prompt previouslyprovided at block 802. In some examples, the barcode 122 replaces theprompt. Additionally or alternatively, the barcode 122 may be providedalong with a new text prompt explaining what the viewer is to do (e.g.,“Scan this barcode to enroll as a panelist”). In some examples, thebarcode 122 is encoded with a URL to direct a portable device 118 of theviewer used to scan the barcode 122 to a website where additionalinformation regarding enrollment as a panelist is provided. In someexamples, the website may include an online form to immediately begincollecting demographic information from the viewer to complete theenrollment process. In some examples, the central facility 110 of theaudience measurement entity maintains the website and receives theinformation input by viewers via the website using their portabledevices 118.

At block 810, the example media output modifier 308 determines whetherto continue displaying the barcode 122. In some examples, this isdetermined based on whether a threshold period of time has elapsedsufficient to enable a person to scan the barcode 122 (e.g., 30 seconds,1 minute, etc.). In some examples, a prompt provided with the barcode122 may include a request to “Press OK once you have scanned the code.”In such examples, the barcode 122 will remain displayed until the viewerpresses OK on the remote control of the media device 104 regardless ofthe duration of time. If the example media output modifier 308determines to continue displaying the barcode 122, control returns toblock 808. Otherwise, control advances to block 812 where the examplemedia output modifier 308 removes the barcode 122 from display.

At block 814, the example memory 314 stores the user response. Forexample, the memory 314 may store whether the viewer agreed to become(or at least indicating an interest in becoming) a panelist or whetherthe viewer declined the invitation to become a panelist. In someexamples, this user response information may be used to determine howsoon, if ever, the viewer is to be again invited to become a panelist asdiscussed above. Further, in some examples, this user response datacorresponds to the content included in the report generated at block 716of FIG. 7 as described above. There is no direct way for the audiencemeasurement module 116 to detect whether a viewer actually scans adisplayed barcode 122 and proceeds to complete the enrollment process.Thus, by including the initial indication of interest of a viewer inbecoming a panelist in the report to the central facility 110, thecentral facility may flag the associated audience measurement data andany subsequent data reported by the particular media device 104 to beassociated with the particular viewer once the viewer completes theenrollment process.

Returning to block 806, if the example user feedback monitor 310determines that the user response does not indicate an interest inbecoming a panelist (e.g., the viewer declined the request), controladvances directly to block 814 to store the user response. Thereafter,the example process of FIG. 8 ends and returns to complete the processof FIG. 7.

Returning to block 804, if the example user feedback monitor 310determines that a user response was not received within the thresholdperiod of time, the example process of FIG. 8 immediately ends andreturns to complete the process of FIG. 7.

In some examples, aspects of the example process of FIGS. 7 and 8 may beincorporated in the example process of FIG. 6. For example, providing abarcode 122 for a viewer to scan may be included in the process of FIG.6 to obtain the additional audience measurement data via a websitewithout necessarily requesting the viewer to become a panelist.Similarly, aspects of the example process of FIG. 6 may be incorporatedin the example process of FIGS. 7 and 8. For example, some informationregarding the viewer volunteering to become a panelist may be collecteddirectly by the media device 104 based on inputs entered via a remotecontrol of the media device 104 in addition to or instead of theinformation obtained via the website.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart representative of example machine-readableinstructions that may be executed to implement the example centralfacility 110 of FIGS. 1 and/or 4. The example process begins at block902 where the example communications interface 402 receives a reportfrom an audience measurement module 116. At block 904, the exampleanalyzer 404 determines whether the report includes audience measurementdata associated with a code 111 embedded in media detected by theaudience measurement module 116. If so, control advances to block 906,the example analyzer 404 determines whether the report includes userresponse data provided by a viewer in response to additional audiencemeasurement data. The user response data may include an indication ofthe number of individuals viewing the media presented via the audiencemeasurement module 116 and/or any other relevant information. If theexample analyzer 404 determines that the report does include userresponse data, control advances to block 908. At block 908, the exampleanalyzer 404 associates the user response data with the audiencemeasurement data associated with the detected code before advances toblock 910. Returning to block 906, if the example analyzer 404determines that the report does not include user response data, controladvances directly to block 910.

At block 910, the example request coordinator 406 sends instructions tothe audience measurement module to coordinate subsequent requests foradditional audience measurement data. Thereafter, control advances toblock 920 where the example analyzer 404 aggregates the audiencemeasurement data from multiple audience measurement modules 116.

Returning to block 904, if the example analyzer 404 determines that thereport does not include an embedded code 111, control advances to block912 where the example analyzer 404 compares a media sample in the reportto reference media signatures. At block 914, the example analyzer 404determines whether the media sample matches a reference media signature.If so, control advances to block 916 where the example analyzer 404identifies the media based on the matching reference media signature. Atblock 918, the example analyzer 404 associates the identified media withthe media device 104 that provided the media sample. Thereafter, controladvances to block 920 to aggregate the audience measurement data frommultiple audience measurement modules 116. Returning to block 914, ifthe media sample does not match a reference media signature, there is noway for the central facility 110 to identify the media. Accordingly, insuch examples, control advances to directly to block 920 to aggregateother audience measurement data obtained from other audience measurementmodules. At block 922, the example analyzer 404 generates report(s) ofaudience metrics based on the aggregated data. Thereafter, the exampleprocess of FIG. 9 ends.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart representative of example machine-readableinstructions that may be executed to implement the example centralfacility 110 of FIGS. 1 and/or 4. The example process begins at block1002 where the example communications interface 402 receives a report ofaudience measurement data associated with a code 111 embedded in mediadetected by an audience measurement module 116. In some examples, thereport may not be associated with an embedded code 111 because the mediabeing monitored did not include a code 111. In such examples, the reportmay include a sample of the media that may be compared to referencemedia signatures in a similar manner as discussed above in connectionwith blocks 912, 914, 916, and 918 of FIG. 9. However, these blocks havebeen omitted in FIG. 10 for the sake of clarity. At block 1004, theexample analyzer 404 determines whether the audience measurement module116 associated with an audience measurement panelist. If so, controladvances to block 1018 where the example analyzer 404 associates theaudience measurement data in the report with the panelist. Thereafter,control advances to block 1028 where the example analyzer 404 aggregatesthe audience measurement data with data from other panelists. Fromthere, control advances to block 1016, where the example analyzergenerate report(s) of audience metrics based on the aggregated data.

Returning to block 1004, if the example analyzer 404 determines that theaudience measurement module 116 is not associated with a panelist,control advances to block 1006. At block 1006, the example analyzer 404determines whether the report includes user response data provided by aviewer indicating an interest in becoming an audience measurementpanelist. If so, control advances to block 1020 where the exampleanalyzer 404 flags the audience measurement data included in the reportfor association with a potential panelist. Otherwise, control advancesto block 1008 where the example analyzer 404 determines whetherenrollment of a viewer associated with the audience measurement module116 as a panelist is expected. In some examples, enrollment of a view asa panelist may be expected where a particular report does not includesuch an indication because a previously collected report included anindication of interest by the viewer. If the enrollment of the viewer asa panelist is expected (block 1008), control again advances to block1020 to flag the audience measurement data included in the report forassociation with the potential (e.g., expected) panelist.

The audience measurement data is flagged for a potential or expectedpanelist after blocks 1006 and 1008 to account for delays between whenthe indication of interest is received from the viewer and when theviewer completes the enrollment process to become a panelist. Forinstances, in some examples, an audience measurement module 116 mayreceive a user response indicating a viewer has an intent (or at leastan interest) in becoming a panelist, whereupon the audience measurementmodule 116 may provide a redirecting barcode 122 for the viewer to scanto access a website to learn more and/or complete the process to enrollas a panelist. However, there is no way for the audience measurementmodule 116 to directly confirm whether the viewer actually scans thebarcode 122 or proceeds to complete the enrollment process because theseactions are accomplished via a separate portable device 118.Furthermore, the enrollment process is not instantaneous but involvesthe viewer taking time to provide the relevant information to become apanelist (e.g., by filling out an online form). Further still, theviewer may delay completing the enrollment process to some future pointin time. By flagging the audience measurement data collected as of thetime an indication of interest in becoming a panelist is receivedenables such data to be associated with the viewer when and if theviewer does in fact, complete the enrollment process.

Thus, after flagging the audience measurement data (block 1020), controladvances to block 1022 where the example analyzer 404 determines whetherpanelist enrollment information has been received via a websitedesignated by the barcode 122. If so, control advances to block 1024where the example analyzer 404 associates the flagged audiencemeasurement data with the panelist. Thereafter, control advances toblock 1026 where the example request coordinator 406 sends instructionsto the audience measurement module 116 to stop subsequent requests toenroll as a panelist. Control then advances to blocks 1028 and 1030 toaggregates the audience measurement data and generate report(s) asdescribed above.

If the example analyzer 404 determines that panelist enrollmentinformation has not been received (block 1022), control advances toblock 1010 where the example analyzer 404 determines whether a thresholdperiod of time has elapsed. In some examples, the threshold period oftime corresponds to a duration of time in which it is expected that aviewer will complete the enrollment process to become a panelist afterproviding an indication of interest in doing so. The threshold period oftime may account for the time it takes to complete the enrollmentprocess (e.g., fill out the online form) as well as any potential delaybefore the viewer takes the time to complete the process. The thresholdperiod of time may be any suitable time period (e.g., one hour, severalhours, one day, three days, one week, etc.). If no enrollmentinformation is received within the threshold period of time, it may beassumed that the viewer either did not scan the barcode 122 or decidednot to go through with the enrollment process. Thus, if the thresholdperiod of time has not elapsed (block 1010), control returns to block1002, to continue repeating the process based on additional reports fromthe audience measurement module 116 and flagging the collected audiencemeasurement data (block 1020) until enrollment information is received(block 1022) or the threshold period elapses (block 1010).

If the threshold period of time has elapsed (block 1010), controladvances to block 1012, where the example analyzer 404 removes the flagassociated with the audience measurement data before control advances toblock 1014. Returning to block 1008, if the example analyzer 404determines that enrollment of a viewer as a panelist is not expected(e.g., no indication of interest has been received), control advancesdirectly to block 1014. At block 1014, the example analyzer 404aggregates the audience measurement data with data from othernon-panelists. Thereafter, control advances to block 1016 where theexample analyzer 404 generates report(s) of audience metrics based onthe aggregated data. The example process of FIG. 10 then ends.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an example processor platform 1100 capableof executing the example machine-readable instructions of FIG. 5 toimplement the example media encoder 108 of FIGS. 1 and/or 2. Theprocessor platform 1100 can be, for example, a server, a personalcomputer, a mobile device (e.g., a cell phone, a smart phone, a tabletsuch as an iPad™), a personal digital assistant (PDA), an Internetappliance, a DVD player, a CD player, a digital video recorder, aBlu-ray player, a gaming console, a personal video recorder, a set topbox, or any other type of computing device.

The processor platform 1100 of the illustrated example includes aprocessor 1112. The processor 1112 of the illustrated example ishardware. For example, the processor 1112 can be implemented by one ormore integrated circuits, logic circuits, microprocessors or controllersfrom any desired family or manufacturer. In the illustrated example, theprocessor 1112 implements the example communications interface 202, theexample code generator 204, and the example embedder 206 of the examplemedia encoder 108 of FIG. 2.

The processor 1112 of the illustrated example includes a local memory1113 (e.g., a cache). The processor 1112 of the illustrated example isin communication with a main memory including a volatile memory 1114 anda non-volatile memory 1116 via a bus 1118. The volatile memory 1114 maybe implemented by Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM),Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS Dynamic Random Access Memory(RDRAM) and/or any other type of random access memory device. Thenon-volatile memory 1116 may be implemented by flash memory and/or anyother desired type of memory device. Access to the main memory 1114,1116 is controlled by a memory controller.

The processor platform 1100 of the illustrated example also includes aninterface circuit 1120. The interface circuit 1120 may be implemented byany type of interface standard, such as an Ethernet interface, auniversal serial bus (USB), and/or a PCI express interface.

In the illustrated example, one or more input devices 1122 are connectedto the interface circuit 1120. The input device(s) 1122 permit(s) a userto enter data and commands into the processor 1112. The input device(s)can be implemented by, for example, an audio sensor, a microphone, acamera (still or video), a keyboard, a button, a mouse, a touchscreen, atrack-pad, a trackball, isopoint and/or a voice recognition system.

One or more output devices 1124 are also connected to the interfacecircuit 1120 of the illustrated example. The output devices 1124 can beimplemented, for example, by display devices (e.g., a light emittingdiode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a liquid crystaldisplay, a cathode ray tube display (CRT), a touchscreen, a tactileoutput device, a light emitting diode (LED), a printer and/or speakers).The interface circuit 1120 of the illustrated example, thus, typicallyincludes a graphics driver card, a graphics driver chip or a graphicsdriver processor.

The interface circuit 1120 of the illustrated example also includes acommunication device such as a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver, amodem and/or network interface card to facilitate exchange of data withexternal machines (e.g., computing devices of any kind) via a network1126 (e.g., an Ethernet connection, a digital subscriber line (DSL), atelephone line, coaxial cable, a cellular telephone system, etc.).

The processor platform 1100 of the illustrated example also includes oneor more mass storage devices 1128 for storing software and/or data.Examples of such mass storage devices 1128 include floppy disk drives,hard drive disks, compact disk drives, Blu-ray disk drives, RAIDsystems, and digital versatile disk (DVD) drives. In some examples, themass storage devices 1128 implements the example database 208 of theexample media encoder 108 of FIG. 2.

The coded instructions 1132 of FIG. 5 may be stored in the mass storagedevice 1128, in the volatile memory 1114, in the non-volatile memory1116, and/or on a removable tangible computer readable storage mediumsuch as a CD or DVD.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an example processor platform 1200 capableof executing the example machine-readable instructions of FIGS. 6-8 toimplement the example audience measurement module of FIGS. 1 and/or 3.The processor platform 1200 can be, for example, a server, a personalcomputer, a mobile device (e.g., a cell phone, a smart phone, a tabletsuch as an iPad™), a personal digital assistant (PDA), an Internetappliance, a DVD player, a CD player, a digital video recorder, aBlu-ray player, a gaming console, a personal video recorder, a set topbox, or any other type of computing device.

The processor platform 1200 of the illustrated example includes aprocessor 1212. The processor 1212 of the illustrated example ishardware. For example, the processor 1212 can be implemented by one ormore integrated circuits, logic circuits, microprocessors or controllersfrom any desired family or manufacturer. In the illustrated example, theprocessor 1212 implements the example communications interface 302, theexample analyzer 304, the example report generator 306, the examplemedia output modifier 308, the example user feedback monitor 310, theexample scheduler 312, and the example media sampler 313, of the exampleaudience measurement module 116 of FIG. 3.

The processor 1212 of the illustrated example includes a local memory1213 (e.g., a cache). The processor 1212 of the illustrated example isin communication with a main memory including a volatile memory 1214 anda non-volatile memory 1216 via a bus 1218. The volatile memory 1214 maybe implemented by Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM),Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS Dynamic Random Access Memory(RDRAM) and/or any other type of random access memory device. Thenon-volatile memory 1216 may be implemented by flash memory and/or anyother desired type of memory device. Access to the main memory 1214,1216 is controlled by a memory controller.

The processor platform 1200 of the illustrated example also includes aninterface circuit 1220. The interface circuit 1220 may be implemented byany type of interface standard, such as an Ethernet interface, auniversal serial bus (USB), and/or a PCI express interface.

In the illustrated example, one or more input devices 1222 are connectedto the interface circuit 1220. The input device(s) 1222 permit(s) a userto enter data and commands into the processor 1212. The input device(s)can be implemented by, for example, an audio sensor, a microphone, acamera (still or video), a keyboard, a button, a mouse, a touchscreen, atrack-pad, a trackball, isopoint and/or a voice recognition system.

One or more output devices 1224 are also connected to the interfacecircuit 1220 of the illustrated example. The output devices 1224 can beimplemented, for example, by display devices (e.g., a light emittingdiode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a liquid crystaldisplay, a cathode ray tube display (CRT), a touchscreen, a tactileoutput device, a light emitting diode (LED), a printer and/or speakers).The interface circuit 1220 of the illustrated example, thus, typicallyincludes a graphics driver card, a graphics driver chip or a graphicsdriver processor.

The interface circuit 1220 of the illustrated example also includes acommunication device such as a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver, amodem and/or network interface card to facilitate exchange of data withexternal machines (e.g., computing devices of any kind) via a network1226 (e.g., an Ethernet connection, a digital subscriber line (DSL), atelephone line, coaxial cable, a cellular telephone system, etc.).

The processor platform 1200 of the illustrated example also includes oneor more mass storage devices 1228 for storing software and/or data.Examples of such mass storage devices 1228 include floppy disk drives,hard drive disks, compact disk drives, Blu-ray disk drives, RAIDsystems, and digital versatile disk (DVD) drives.

The coded instructions 1232 of FIGS. 6-8 may be stored in the massstorage device 1228, in the volatile memory 1214, in the non-volatilememory 1216, and/or on a removable tangible computer readable storagemedium such as a CD or DVD.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an example processor platform 1300 capableof executing the example machine-readable instructions of FIGS. 9 and/or10 to implement the example central facility 110 of FIGS. 1 and/or 4.The processor platform 1300 can be, for example, a server, a personalcomputer, a mobile device (e.g., a cell phone, a smart phone, a tabletsuch as an iPad™), a personal digital assistant (PDA), an Internetappliance, a DVD player, a CD player, a digital video recorder, aBlu-ray player, a gaming console, a personal video recorder, a set topbox, or any other type of computing device.

The processor platform 1300 of the illustrated example includes aprocessor 1312. The processor 1312 of the illustrated example ishardware. For example, the processor 1312 can be implemented by one ormore integrated circuits, logic circuits, microprocessors or controllersfrom any desired family or manufacturer. In the illustrated example, theprocessor 1312 implements the example communications interface 402, theexample analyzer 404, and the example request coordinator 406 of theexample central facility of FIG. 4.

The processor 1312 of the illustrated example includes a local memory1313 (e.g., a cache). The processor 1312 of the illustrated example isin communication with a main memory including a volatile memory 1314 anda non-volatile memory 1316 via a bus 1318. The volatile memory 1314 maybe implemented by Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM),Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS Dynamic Random Access Memory(RDRAM) and/or any other type of random access memory device. Thenon-volatile memory 1316 may be implemented by flash memory and/or anyother desired type of memory device. Access to the main memory 1314,1316 is controlled by a memory controller.

The processor platform 1300 of the illustrated example also includes aninterface circuit 1320. The interface circuit 1320 may be implemented byany type of interface standard, such as an Ethernet interface, auniversal serial bus (USB), and/or a PCI express interface.

In the illustrated example, one or more input devices 1322 are connectedto the interface circuit 1320. The input device(s) 1322 permit(s) a userto enter data and commands into the processor 1312. The input device(s)can be implemented by, for example, an audio sensor, a microphone, acamera (still or video), a keyboard, a button, a mouse, a touchscreen, atrack-pad, a trackball, isopoint and/or a voice recognition system.

One or more output devices 1324 are also connected to the interfacecircuit 1320 of the illustrated example. The output devices 1324 can beimplemented, for example, by display devices (e.g., a light emittingdiode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a liquid crystaldisplay, a cathode ray tube display (CRT), a touchscreen, a tactileoutput device, a light emitting diode (LED), a printer and/or speakers).The interface circuit 1320 of the illustrated example, thus, typicallyincludes a graphics driver card, a graphics driver chip or a graphicsdriver processor.

The interface circuit 1320 of the illustrated example also includes acommunication device such as a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver, amodem and/or network interface card to facilitate exchange of data withexternal machines (e.g., computing devices of any kind) via a network1326 (e.g., an Ethernet connection, a digital subscriber line (DSL), atelephone line, coaxial cable, a cellular telephone system, etc.).

The processor platform 1300 of the illustrated example also includes oneor more mass storage devices 1328 for storing software and/or data.Examples of such mass storage devices 1328 include floppy disk drives,hard drive disks, compact disk drives, Blu-ray disk drives, RAIDsystems, and digital versatile disk (DVD) drives. In the illustratedexample, the mass storage devices 1328 implements the example database408 of the example central facility of FIG. 4.

The coded instructions 1332 of FIGS. 9 and 10 may be stored in the massstorage device 1328, in the volatile memory 1314, in the non-volatilememory 1316, and/or on a removable tangible computer readable storagemedium such as a CD or DVD.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that methods, apparatus andarticles of manufacture disclosed herein enable the collection ofaudience measurement data from potentially very large populationsthrough reports received from audience measurement modules that may beincorporated into media devices of audience members regardless ofwhether they are part of an audience measurement panel. In some example,the audience measurement modules are incorporated into the media device(e.g., consumer electronic device) during manufacturing (e.g., prior topurchase by a consumer). While the collection of audience measurementdata often involves the use of specialized equipment provided topanelists, teachings disclosed herein enable census-wide tracking ofmedia exposure by embedded visual-based codes (e.g., barcodes) intomedia distributed to media devices containing an audience measurementmodule (which may be hardware and/or software dedicated to audiencemeasurement). Such codes can be detected, decoded, and/or reported to acentral facility of an audience measurement entity using relativelylittle processing power of the media device. Furthermore, examplesdisclosed herein enable the census-type delivery of requests to audiencemembers to provide additional audience measurement data such as peoplecounts, demographic information, and/or other relevant details to expandupon the data collected from automatic reports of the detected codesembedded in the media. In some examples, the requests for additionalaudience measurement data include providing a redirecting barcode fordisplay on the screen presenting the media for viewers to scan with aseparate portable device. Upon scanning the barcode, a browser of theportable device may be directed to a website through which theadditional audience measurement data can be provided. In this manner,viewers of media may provide the requested data without being distractedwith media on the primary screen presenting the media. In some examples,the requests for additional audience measurement data are provided inconnection with a request for the audience members to become panelistsof an audience measurement panel. The automatic delivery of suchrequests on a census-wide scale is a cost effective way to increase thelikelihood of obtaining large numbers of individuals joining panels formore robust audience metrics.

Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacturehave been disclosed herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is notlimited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods,apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope ofthe claims of this patent.

What is claimed is:
 1. A media device comprising: a processor; andmemory including machine readable instructions that, when executed,cause the processor to: detect a first code embedded in a video streamof media being presented by the media device, the first code referencingfirst audience measurement data to identify the media; after detectionof the first code, provide a request for an audience member to join anaudience measurement panel; and after receipt of a response to therequest, cause the media device to present a second code, the secondcode including information that, when the second code is scanned with aportable device other than the media device, is to direct the portabledevice to a website to provide additional audience measurement data. 2.The media device of claim 1, wherein the second code includes a uniformresource locator corresponding to the website, the website to include aform associated with an enrollment process to become a panelist of theaudience measurement panel.
 3. The media device of claim 1, wherein thefirst code is a first instance of the first code detected at a firstpoint in time, the request is a first instance of the request, and theprocessor is further to: detect a second instance of the first code at asecond point in time after the first point in time; suppress provisionof a second instance of the request in response to detection of thesecond instance of the first code when less than a threshold period oftime has elapsed since the first instance of the request was provided;and provide the second instance of the request in response to thedetection of the second instance of the first code after the thresholdperiod of time has elapsed since the first instance of the request wasprovided.
 4. The media device of claim 3, wherein the threshold periodof time is defined by input received from an audience measuremententity.
 5. The media device of claim 3, wherein the processor is furtherto: transmit a first report to a central facility in response to thefirst instance of the first code; and transmit a second report to thecentral facility in response to the second instance of the first coderegardless of whether the threshold period of time has elapsed, thefirst report and the second report including at least one of the firstcode or the first audience measurement data referenced by the firstcode.
 6. The media device of claim 1, wherein the first code is embeddedin a video frame by a provider of the media.
 7. The media device ofclaim 1, wherein the website is to facilitate enrollment of the audiencemember in the audience measurement panel.
 8. A non-transitory computerreadable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause amedia device to at least: detect a first code embedded in a video streamof media being presented by the media device, the first code referencingfirst audience measurement data to identify the media; after detectingthe first code, provide a request for an audience member to join anaudience measurement panel; and after receipt of a response to therequest, present a second code, the second code including informationthat, when the second code is scanned with a portable device other thanthe media device, is to direct the portable device to a website toprovide additional audience measurement data.
 9. The non-transitorycomputer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the second code includes auniform resource locator corresponding to the website, the website toinclude a form associated with an enrollment process to become apanelist of the audience measurement panel.
 10. The non-transitorycomputer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the first code is a firstinstance of the first code detected at a first point in time, therequest is a first instance of the request, and the instructions furthercause the media device to: detect a second instance of the first code ata second point in time after the first point in time; suppress provisionof a second instance of the request in response to detection of thesecond instance of the first code when less than a threshold period oftime has elapsed since the first instance of the request was provided;and provide the second instance of the request in response to thedetection of the second instance of the first code after the thresholdperiod of time has elapsed since the first instance of the request wasprovided.
 11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10,wherein the threshold period of time is defined by input received froman audience measurement entity.
 12. The non-transitory computer readablemedium of claim 10, wherein the instructions further cause the mediadevice to: transmit a first report to a central facility in response tothe first instance of the first code; and transmit a second report tothe central facility in response to the second instance of the firstcode regardless of whether the threshold period of time has elapsed, thefirst report and the second report including at least one of the firstcode or the first audience measurement data referenced by the firstcode.
 13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8,wherein the first code is embedded in a video frame by a provider of themedia.
 14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8,wherein the website is to facilitate enrollment of the audience memberin the audience measurement panel.
 15. A media device comprising: ananalyzer to detect and decode a first code embedded in a video stream ofmedia being presented by the media device, the first code referencingfirst audience measurement data that identifies the media; a mediaoutput modifier to provide a second code to display in response todetecting the first code, the second code including information that,when the second code is scanned with a portable device other than themedia device, is to direct the portable device to a website tofacilitate enrollment of an audience member in an audience measurementpanel; and a user feedback monitor to receive a user response to arequest for the audience member to join the audience measurement panelprior to the media output modifier providing the second code, the userresponse indicating the audience member has an interest in joining theaudience measurement panel, the media output modifier to provide therequest in response to the analyzer detecting the first code.
 16. Themedia device of claim 15, wherein the second code includes a uniformresource locator corresponding to the website, the website to include aform to facilitate the enrollment of the audience member.
 17. The mediadevice of claim 15, wherein the first code is a first instance of thefirst code detected at a first point in time, the request is a firstinstance of the request, the analyzer is to detect a second instance ofthe first code at a second point in time after the first point in time,and the media output modifier is to (1) suppress provision of a secondinstance of the request in response to detection of the second instanceof the first code when less than a threshold period of time has elapsedsince the first instance of the request was provided, and (2) providethe second instance of the request in response to the detection of thesecond instance of the first code after the threshold period of time haselapsed since the first instance of the request was provided.
 18. Themedia device of claim 17, wherein the threshold period of time isdefined by input from an audience measurement entity.
 19. The mediadevice of claim 17, further including a communications interface to:transmit a first report to a central facility in response to the firstinstance of the first code; and transmit a second report to the centralfacility in response to the second instance of the first code regardlessof whether the threshold period of time has elapsed, the first reportand the second report including at least one of the first code or thefirst audience measurement data referenced by the first code.
 20. Themedia device of claim 15, wherein the first code is embedded in a videoframe by a provider of the media.